Connecter for electric headlights and the like



March 12, 1929. W N' 1,705,022

CONNECTER FOR ELECTRIC HEADLIGHTS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 18, 192 2wve/ntoz fizz 342%,

Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ALBERT R. LEWELLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORSCOR- PORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GONNECTER FOR ELECTRIC HEADLIGHTS' AND THE LIKE.

Application filed September 18, 1922. Serial- No. 588,886.

This invention relates to lamps and more especially to electric lamps orlights for automobiles. t

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of new and improvedmeans for holding the various parts of the lamp connecter in assembledrelation. v

Another object of the invention is the provisionof a lamp connecter thatis simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, easily assembled,eflicient in operation, composed of but few parts, strong and durablefand that is not likely to get out of order.

Another object/of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedlamp connecter in which a single spring is employed to secure bothcontact members in operative position. v

A still further object of the invention is the provision of new andimproved means for holding the parts in partially assembled relationduring shipment.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appearfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the device in position in a lamp withparts broken away;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve member;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the connecter member; and

Figure 4: shows a modified form of the device.

On the drawings the reference character 10 designates a lamp shell orcasing having the central opening 11 therein; a flange 12 may surroundthe opening 11. Nested within the casing 10 and secured thereto at itsperiphery in the usual manner is the concave reflector 13 having acentral opening 14 therein in alignment with the opening 11 inthecasing. The reflecter may also be provided Witha flange 15 extendingabout the opening 14:, al-

;though it is understood that neither of said flanges is necessary.

A lamp connecter '1 member 16 is adjustablysecured in the openings 11and 14-. The connecter member preferably comprises a sleeve o'r socketmember 17 in' which is suitably mounted an insulated plunger orconductor member 18. The sleeve or socket member 17 is provided at itsforward end with bayonet ,members for assisting in holding the lamp bulb22 from movement in the sleeve and also for reta1ning the bulb inposition when the spring plunger is not assembled. By this arrangementthe bulb may be assembled in the sleeve and shipped or handled withoutdanger of its becoming displaced therefrom.

The rear end of the sleeve 17 is provided with bayonet slots 25 for apurpose that will presently appear.

Suitable means are provided for holding the conductor member 18 inelectrical contact with the other terminal 26 of the lamp 22, and forinsulating the same from the sleeve 17. Thls means is so constructed andarranged that the conductor member 18 and the lamp 22 may be removedfrom the sleeve or socket member 17 independently of each other andWithout disturbing the position of said sleeve.

As shown on the drawings, an insulator member 27 having its forward endshaped to engage within the outer end of the sleeve 17 is provided withan axial bore 28. A flanged cup-shaped member 29 is adapted to engageWithin the forward end ofthe bore 28 and constitute an abutment for oneend of a spring 30, the other end of which engages beneath the head 31-of the lunger 18 for holding the same against the contact member 26 onsaid lamp.

The insulator member 27 is removably The cap 34 is providedwith an eye36 through which the extend.

Suitable means are provided for connecting the conductor wire 37 to theplunger 18. Any suitable means may be provided for this conductor wire37 is adapted to purpose. As shown in Figure 3, the outer end of theplunger 18 is screw threaded and is adapted to engage a nut 38 havingrigidly secured thereto a U-shaped connecter member 39 in which theconductor wire 37 may be clamped. The head 31 of the plunger 17 a or 18may be provided with a kerf or screwdriver slot for the reception of asuitable tool for rotating said plunger.

As shown in Figure 4,.the plunger 17 is provided at its outer end with atransverse bore 40 for the reception of the conductor wire 37. A bindingscrew 41 is provided for holding the conductor wire in said bore 40 inthe usual manner.

Suitable means are provided for adjusting the sleeve 17 longitudinallywithin the open ings 11 and 14 for adjusting the lamp 522 relative tothe focus of the reflector 13 As shown, the sleeve 17 is provided with alug 42 extending laterally therefrom and being provided with a tappedopening 43 in which is adapted to engage a threaded bolt 44 whichextends through an aperture 45 in the lamp shell or casing 10. A coilspring 46 mounted on the bolt between the lug 42 and the lamp casing 10is adapted to hold the sleeve inwardly.

It will be observed that the sleeve 17 constitutes the sole connectionbetween the central portions of the reflector 13- and lamp casing 10.This is an important feature of this invention because it permits aready disassembling of the parts of the lamp. Attention is alsodirected-to the fact that the wire 37 may be connected to the plunger 17'or 18 before the plunger and insulator are assembled in the sleeve 17.

In assembling the device, the lamp 22 is placed in position within thesleeve 17, the resilient members 24 frictionally holding the same inposition. After the plunger 17 or 18 has been assembled in thecup-shaped member 29, the conductor wire 37 may be threaded through theeye 36 of the cap 34 andthrough insulator 27 and secured to the plunger17. or 18, after which the insulator member may be placed within the cap34 and said cap secured in the outer end of the sleeve or socket member17 bythe engagement of the pins 35 in the bayonet slots 25 against thetension of the spring 30. 3

It will thus be observed that the single spring 30 holds the variouselements in their assembled relation; that the different parts of thedevice may be readily removed or disassembled; and that means areprovided for focusing the lamp from the exterior of the lamp casingwithout interfering in any way I with the connecting mechanism.

I claim: w,

1. An electric lamp socket or connecter including a tubular insulator, aforwardly open cup removably socketed in the forward end of the bore ofthe insulator and having a perforation in its bottom, the cup having aradial flange engaging the forward end of the insulator, a contactmember extending through the said bottom perforation into the bore ofthe insulator, the contact member having means normally disposed withinthe said bore for securing a wire to its rear end and having a contacthead at its forward end, and a compression spring extending into the cupand interposed between the cup bottom and the said contact head, thecontact member having a portion disposed behind the cup bottom andadapted to engage the said bottom to force the cup out of the insulatorwhen the contact member is drawn forward, thereby permitting the cup,the contact member and the spring to be drawn forwardly and entirelybeyond the insulator as a unit to permit the attaching to the contactmember of a wire inserted through the bore of the insulator from therear of the latter.

2. An electric lamp socket or connecter comprising a metal shellequipped at its forward end for interlocking with a lamp or plug, atubular insulator housed by the shell and having a portion thereofabutting rearwardly against a portion of the shell to limit the rearwardmovement of the insulator, a

forwardly open cup removably socketed in the forward end of the bore ofthe insulator and having a perforation in its bottom, the cup having aradial flange engaging the forward end of the insulator, a contactmember extending through the said perforation, means threaded upon therear end of the contact member and housed by the bore of the insulatorfor securing a wire thereto, the contact member having a contact head atits forward end for engaging the lamp or plug; and a compression springinterposed between the bottom of the cup and the said contact head; thtlportion of the contact member ex-. tending rearwardly of the guide cupbeing smaller in diameter than the bore of the insulator so as topermitthe cup arid contact member to be withdrawn forwardly from theinsulator so as to dispose the rear end of the contact member in frontof the shell for the attachment thereto of a wire inserted through thebore of the insulator and shell from the rear end of'the latter.

3. A connecter including a tubular insulator, a cup fitted in one end ofthe insulator and provided with means for limiting its inward'movement,said cup having a perforatlon in its bottom, a member extending throughsaid perforation and provided with an enlargement at its forward end, aspring engaging said cup and said enlargement for urgmg the memberoutwardly of the cup,

' said member having a part disposed behind the cup bottom and adaptedto engage said bottom to force the cup out of the insulator when themember is drawn forward thereby permitting the cup, the member and thespring to be drawn forwardly and entirely beyond the insulator as a unitto permit attaching to the member a conductor inserted through the boreof the insulator from the rear of the latter.

4. A connecter comprising an insulator having a bore of substantiallyuniform diameter, a stamping fitted in one end of the bore, and providedwith an annular flange engaging the end of the insulator for limitingits inward movement, such stamping being provided with a perforationsubstantially in line with the bore of said insulator, a memberextending through said perforation and adapted for connection with aconductor carrying current thereto, said member being provided with anenlargement at its outer end, a spring engaging the enlargement andurging the member outwardly of the stamping, said member having a partdisposed behind the stamping bottom and adapted to engage said bottom toforce the stamping out of the insulator when the member is drawn forwardthereby permitting the stamping, the member, and the spring to be drawnforwardly and entirely beyond the insulator as a unit to permit theattaching to the member of a conductor inserted through the bore of theinsulator from the rear of the latter.

5. A connecter comprising an insulator having a bore ofsubstantiallyuniform diameter, a stamping fitted in one end of the bore and providedwith an outwardly extending flange engaging the end of the insulator forlimiting its inward movement, said stamping being provided with aperforation substantially in line'with the bore of said insulator,amember extending through said perforation, said member being providedwith an enlargement at its outer end, a spring housed within saidstamping and engaging said enlargement for urging the member outwardlyof the stamping, said member, spring and stamping being adapted to bedrawn forwardly and entirely beyond the insulator as a unit to permitthe attachment of a wire extending through the bore of the insulatorfrom the rear of the latter.

6. The combination of a sleeve arranged to receive a lamp bulb in oneend, a tubular insulator in the sleeve, a current conducting meansextending through the bore of the insulator and including a contactmember, means reacting against said insulator for yieldingly urging saidcontact member into engagement with the base of the lamp bulb, saidcurrent conducting means being adapted to be drawn forwardly andentirely beyond the insulator as a unit to permit attachment of a wireinserted through the bore of the insulator from the rear of the latter,said insulator being provided with a reduced end, a cap telescoped oversaid reduced end and having a bayonet slot connection with said sleeve,said yielding means tending to retain said cap and sleeve in lookingengagement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALBERT R. LEl VELLEN.

